Author: roryjmele

I am a Returned Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after years of semi-activity and excommunication. I am a husband and father to three, and an advocate to an infant daughter with down syndrome, Congenital Heart Defects and other disabilities. I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Communication, Public Relations, minoring in Military Science at Southern Utah University. I gained a love of writing as a trained Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army, and a love for the plain and simple doctrines of the Church through enduring hard things.

Uplift Community of Faith has created a new group for those returning to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call Uplift Coming Home. It is specific to those who have received formal discipline, such as disfellowshipped or excommunicated, for those who have resigned their membership, and for friends, family and leaders seeking information … Continue reading UPLIFT Coming Home

This should be an amazing event that you should definitely register for if you are not far from Provo, UT. The event is at no cost to you and has amazing content for those who have doubts, questions, and would like to meet members of our community to increase in respect and faith together. Click … Continue reading UPLIFT 2020 Gathering #2020VISION

Click on the picture for a video representation of this vision of the Tree of Life. Go to 1 Nephi 11 in The Book of Mormon to learn about what the vision means. Why I follow the prophet can be better stated, "why I follow the teachings of the prophet." It is the very reason … Continue reading Why I Choose to Follow a Prophet

As many of you know, we start the study of the Book of Mormon in the Come Follow Me manual this week as a family centered curriculum guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is an activity in the manual under the “Ideas for Family Scripture Study…” section regarding the testimonies … Continue reading Why I trust The Book of Mormon

I belong to an amazing group of people who have been or are going through a faith crisis related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Uplift Community of Faith is a Facebook page, with subsequent groups to discuss concerns with changes in Church policy, historical details that they never learned before, or … Continue reading Uplift Community of Faith

I remember sitting in the temple during my mission to Oklahoma and thinking to myself, “What if it’s all a lie?” It was 2005 when the Church celebrated the 200th birthday of the prophet Joseph Smith and....[go to article]

We waited faithfully the required year from my baptismal date and readmittance into the Church, only to find out that I needed to wait another year before re-applying for this ordinance. We were devastated, confused, and hurt. Our lives had completely changed after I had returned to the gospel and [.....go to article]